Mauna Loa

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by Obie

What about the OP's original question ?

"When it erupts, does it ever flow to Puna?"

The answer is it could affect a tiny bit of Puna and that most of Puna is shielded by Kilauea.

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Actually the answer is a bit more complicated than that.. at least, in my unprofessional opinion

There is an often overlooked radial rift of Mauna Loa that is IN Puna, and has erupted in the last thousand years.. but not recent enough to be apparent, nor expected to erupt any time soon. But, none-the-less there are vents along it that cross Highway 11 and can be seen at the Glenwood Transfer Station, as well as along that stretch of the highway itself.

The most prominent feature on that rift is Kulani Cone. Though a line drawn from Kulani to the Glenwood Transfer Station on a topo map will reveal a series of vents.. that lead to and are actually in Puna.

As such, any discussion based on the OP would be remiss not to mention them and the larger effect any eruption from that rift would have on Puna.